“Mm, let’s swap the bed,” I said, like turning a page to a cleaner sky.

I scanned the room, like a hawk over a quiet field, then walked to the big bed at center.

I tapped a finger, quick as a raindrop, and the bed vanished like mist at dawn.

Another tap fell like a pebble in a pond, and a new bed bloomed back, silk-bright and swan-clean.

Of course it looked gorgeous, like moonlight on lacquer, since this one came from the Mizumi Clan.

“All right, Servant, go make something to eat,” Xinuo said, cool as winter shade, lounging with a novel like a sleeping cat.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m dying to eat Boss’s cooking,” Hill chimed, cheeks puffed like buns, hugging my arm like a warm scarf.

“Sure, but let me shower first,” I sighed, sweat clinging like summer rain and fatigue heavy as wet clothes.

I kneaded my shoulder, like pressing a knot out of wood, and stepped to Xinuo’s side. “Xinuo, I’m bathing—give me a change.”

“Here,” she said, her hand smooth as jade, passing me a neatly folded set like fresh snow.

“…,” I stared, words stuck like a fishbone, at a classic black-and-white maid outfit pretty as a porcelain doll.

“Why a maid outfit?” I asked, a bad premonition creeping in like fog through trees.

“Oh, because Servant hasn’t worn women’s clothes in a while,” Xinuo said, calm as a still lake yet pressing like a mountain.

“Uh… fine, I’ll wear it,” I yielded, like grass bowing under wind I couldn’t stop.

“Mm, good Servant,” she said, tapping my cheek like a petal, her smile warm as morning tea. “Bathe, then cook.”

“Boss, hurry,” Hill mumbled, palm on her tiny belly like a kitten rubbing for milk.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m going,” I said, pinching Hill’s soft cheek like mochi, and headed to the bath cradling the clothes.

By the way, the room was huge like a temple hall, so the bath sat inside like a secluded spring.

Alente said this bath was the best in the City Lord’s manor, like a crown jewel set in stone.

Inside the bath, I stopped short, eyes bright as lanterns, because every fixture gleamed like polished steel.

The floor and walls were spotless, white as gull wings, making steam look like drifting clouds.

“All right, quick wash, then lunch,” I told myself, as the sun outside glared like a brass gong.

I stripped with quick hands, clothes falling like leaves, and let hot water run like a mountain stream.

Half an hour later…

“Ah, that hit the spot,” I breathed, stepping out in a maid dress, tying my hair like a ribboned willow.

“As expected, Boss looks great in girl clothes!” Hill squealed, joy ringing like silver bells.

“Servant looks better in women’s clothes,” Xinuo added, gaze light as snow, falling with quiet certainty.

“Yeah, yeah, I get it—I’m going to cook,” I said, letting sarcasm drift like smoke, and headed for the door.

“Big brother, big brother, Lilith came to play!” a bright voice sang, lively as birds at dawn.

“???” Lilith stared at me, a giant question mark floating like a kite over her head.

“Big brother… or big sister?” she asked, tilting her head like a curious sparrow.

“Uh, it’s me, big brother,” I said, tapping her small head like a drum with a gentle beat.

“Oh, it is big brother! But why the maid outfit?” Her eyes blinked like blue stars, sparkling with glee.

“Well then, Lilith, can you tell me where the kitchen is?” I asked, smile easy as a breeze through reeds.

“The kitchen? Big brother can cook?” Her surprise popped like corn in a hot pan.

“Of course, cooking’s one of the things I do best,” I said, confidence steady as a hearth flame.

“Ooh! Then Lilith will take you to the kitchen,” she cheered, tugging my hand like a playful tide.

“Remember my portion—Lilith hasn’t had lunch yet,” she added, clutching her tummy like a little drum.

“Got it,” I said, promise firm as a knot in rope.

“Then what’re we waiting for? To the kitchen!” she cried, and we ran like wind through a corridor of flags.

“Lilith, where did you go?” Alente’s voice echoed behind us, like a bell through stone halls.

“Dad, Lilith went to play with big brother! And big brother will make lunch!” she said, bouncing like a ball.

“Oh, I see—” Alente froze when he saw me, jaw dropping like a fallen tile.

“Ahem,” he coughed, composure fluttering back like a startled moth. “My lord, you are…?”

“Let’s not talk about this,” I cut in, hand raised like a fan. “May I borrow the kitchen?”

“Ah, of course!” Alente nodded quickly, words tumbling like pebbles. “Use it as long as you like, ask for any ingredients.”

“Thank you, City Lord Alente,” I said, bowing slightly, like bending a reed to the stream.

“No need, no need,” he waved, trying to usher Lilith back like herding a lamb. “We’ll leave you be.”

But—

“No! Lilith isn’t going back,” she cried, breaking free like a fish from a net, and ran to my side.

“Lilith, come back! Don’t trouble our lord,” Alente scolded, voice stern like a gavel.

“It’s fine,” I said, steady as a pine in wind. “I’ll look after Lilith, City Lord. Don’t worry.”

“If you say so, my lord, then I’ll entrust her to you,” he said, the relief melting like frost.

“All right,” I answered, simple as a clean blade.

“I’ll head back then,” he added, pausing with an apologetic glance like a bowed lantern. “Call me if you need anything.”

“Mm. Goodbye,” I said, the word floating like a leaf downstream.

“Big brother, hurry and make lunch!” Lilith tugged, eager as a pup.

“Yes, yes, I know,” I said, smiling like sun on water, and we slipped into the kitchen.

About forty minutes later…

“Xinuo, Hill, lunch is ready,” I announced, carrying dishes that steamed like little clouds.

“Wow! It smells amazing!” Hill sprinted over, nose twitching like a rabbit’s.

“Hill, help me set the dishes,” I said, handing her a tray heavy as harvest. “Let’s eat together.”

“Xinuo, come eat,” I called, voice warm as broth over coals.

“Mm, coming,” she said, closing her book like folding a fan, and stepped down with silk-calm feet.

“Let’s begin,” I said, ladling rice like snow into bowls for them.

“Dig in,” I added, the word soft as a bell at dusk.

“As expected of Boss! This is so good!” Hill beamed, joy bubbling like a spring.

“Waaah! Big brother’s food is so tasty!” Lilith cried, eyes shining like twin moons.

With Hill and Lilith, meals always turn lively, like sparrows filling a bamboo grove.

Watching their bright smiles bloom like flowers, I couldn’t help smiling back, and sat to eat with them, quiet as rain on tiles.